St. Paul daily globe., 1887-11-06
A FOOLS WISDOM.

The feelings Of the gentleman whom Gov.
McGILL appointed to Office toward the state
house administration might be taken as an
ndex TO the state of the popular mind toward
him. As rumor ana gossip Of the day, am
old that Attorney General CLAPP is much
disappointed with his position. It has
brought him neither fame nor any practical
political prestige, and, as a friend says, HE
feels ike the nub end Of the legal pro fes-
sion" Auditor BRADEN has kept clear Of the
administration embroglios, and although
serving his last term as auditor is ready to
become governor-if he has chance. ELI
W3RSER is credited with having said that
MoGILL would never run again, and that the
bird who hatched its eggs before frost came
would be sure to have family in the spring.
This 1 take to mean that ELI has gone over
to the MERRIAM faction.
#*
AS to the Railroad commission, .xGov.
.AUsTIN is heartily sick of his bargain to
roast the railroads over Gehenna. At any
rate, he has seen all the public service he
cares to, and expresses himself as willing to
retire. Mr.. GIBBS is candidate for governor
again. will not qualify this statement. He
isih the field, and it would not be surprising
to see such of the McGILL men as are left
turn around and support him. Col. MATTsoN
thinks that as long as the Swedes demand
recognition on the Republican state ticket
his chances are good for state office. But
among all these gentlemen there is strong
undercurrent of talk and feeling against the
governor as political light. They feel that,
unintentionslly perhaps, he has proven
JONAH to the party. He has antagonized the
PILLsBuRYs, LOREN FLETCHER, the REED
element, the strongest of mis- old friends in
Southern Minnesota, and IN general way
shown more ability for getting into serapes
than out Of them.
The combination formed last fall for the
nomination OF SLCGILL had in reality but one
object-anything to defeat GILMAN. They
chose McGILL for this purpose, not because
they loved him, but they could mold him
more rapidly to their ends than GIBBS or any
other candidate named. l learn that com
bination with the same purpose will be
formed again next fall. if Mr.. GILMAN in any
Way proves dangerous. The politicians of
Southern Minnesota, with st. Paul and
Minneapolis clique, are determined that Mr..
GILMAN shall never be governor. and they
propose to use GIBBS and MERRIAM and
CoMsTocK, and Berchance McGILL, to defeat
him. l do not see how it will be posSiblef or
him to go into the state convention with any
chance of success. His only hope for re-
venge lies in his appearing as an independ-
ent candidate, in which case he could
slaughter the Philistines without any ques.
ton. He is constantly being urged at the
present time to make his arrangements for
an Independent canvass next fall.
~
Rev ERrcK L. PETERSON, who killed him
self at Faribault on Wednesday last, was
a Norwegian, and, though probably forgot
ten by many, once a priest in the French
Catholic church of st. Paul. He was man
of singularly unpleasant personal appear
ance, but remarkably well educated and a
linguist of no mean ability. He was so radi-
cal in his religious beliefs that he narrowly
escaped trouble with the different churches
he was connected with. lie was expelled
from the Catholic church, owing to certain
infractions on his part of the laws against
drinking. The last time met him he was in
st. Paul, soliciting money for the purchase
of an organ for his church at Faribault. He
visited quite a number of the jobbers upon
this errand. He looked very badly then, and
gave evidence of the insanity that finally
took possession OF him.
-
As l understand it, the falling out between
Gov. McGnL and LOREN FLETCHER arose
over SToEDoCK and high license. 1t is true
that FLETCHER pledged SToRDocK in the Re-
publican state convention that he should
haJe some state Office but he did not intend
that It should be the wardenship. When the
time for the governors appointments came
round FLETCHER insisted to McGILL that if
SToRDocK were not given a railroad commits
sionership he at least should not sup
plant REED. On this proposition the gov
ernor baked, and pointed out the necessity
bf conciliating the northern part of the state
bnd giving IL that recognition through ap-
pointments that had been denied it in the
convention. FLETCHER stormed and ragged
10 no-purpose. HisexplaHations as to REEDS
services to the Republican party in the past
and his own personal obligations to him
were received in silence. That was his first
setback The second came. it is said, when
ihe subject of high license was brought up
in connection with the governors message.
FLETCHER was in favor of saying nothing
about it. leaving the battle to the legislature.
lie argued that for the governor to take
stand upon it was simply urging the party
OH to prohibition or defeat. To this advice
MC(iILL and his friends would not listen.
They asserted that they were not looking to
the future, but making capital for the pres
ent; and if it did drive the Germans from
the party il would keep the Irish straight,
and as for the Scandinayians there would be
little trouble in holding them. Mr.. FLETCHER
left in state of disgust that he hasn't re-
covered from yet.
FRANK HANSON, who was shot at Eau
Claire Thursday night ty the ex-cook of his
hotel, i well known in st. Paul. He formerly
ran hotel in Hastings, where he married his
first wife, an estimable lady. She secured a
divorce from him finally on number of
charges of misconduct. A brother of Post
master General Villas prosecuted the suit for
her. HANSON married his second wife, and
the one that caused this shooting affair, i'll
1888 lie has brother living at Hastings
who is proprietor of one of the hotels there
~
1t was only lately that I discovered that
there has always been a warm rivalry be-
tween Gen. c. c. ANDREWS and FLETCHER
WILLIAMS us TO which should have charge Of
the archives Of the State Historical associa
lion. The general is as much of a book
worm as Mr.. WILLIAMS. and both are old res
idents and chroniclers of ST. Paul's past his
tory. Both are men of strong physical en-
durance. and the chances of each for outliy-
ing the other are good. Yet, Mr.. WILLIAMS
remains librarian, and the general. perforce.
must bear witness TO it. But l understand
that he would be glad to either supplant Mr..
WILLIAMS or become co-laborer with him.
~
''What is Mr.. DoNNELLT going to do in
politics next year, is question asked al
most as often as the other, When will his
book be published?'' The best answer to the
first that have heard was made this week
by veteran Republican. He said: Mr..
DoNNELLY made very fair bargain last win
ter when he entered into his compact with
Mr.. MERRIAM. That compact not only meant
Mr. MERRIAM 5 election as speaker, but also
DoNNELLY's voice for him for governor next
year On the other hand. MERRIAM and his